Skylight.



N0. 707,4l9. Patented Aug. 19, |902.

E. .1. HULSE.

sxvusm.

(Applieapion fllad Jan. 20, 1902.)

Sheet 1.

4 Sheets (No Model.)

N0. 70mm. Pate nted Aug. l9, I902.

E. J'.HULSE.

' SKYLIGHT.

Application filed Jam. 20, 1902.) (No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2,.

Patented Aug. l9, I902. E. J. HULSE. a

SKYLIGHT. Application filed. Jan. 20, 1902.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

n4: NORRIS PETERS cov. moraumm msumumw. n. c.

Patented Aug. l9, I902.

E. J. HULSE.

S KYLlG HT.

(Application filed Jan. 20, 1902.)

Sheet 4.

4 Sheats (No Model.)

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OFFICE.

EDGAR J. HULSE, OF IVASIIINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SKYLIGHT.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 707,419, dated August 19, 1902.

Application filed January 20, 1902. Serial No. 90.573. (N0 model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR J. HULSE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Skylights, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to supports for the glass or tiles employed in skylights, roofs, and other like structures; .and it consists in certain improved constructions of the sheetmetal supportsfor such structures, whereby to secure great strength and rigidity and tight joints by the use only of sheet metal and practically without the employment of rivets, as fully set forth hereinafter and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a cross-section of part of a skylight structure embodying my improvements; Fig. 2, an enlarged cross-section on the line 2 2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a sectional view showing the construction of the parts when the glass panes abut. Fig. l is an enlarged sectional perspective view of thestructure shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a cross-section showing the structure as adapted for use in connection with metallic supporting-rails. Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 are cross-sections illustrating modifications.

The ridge-bar of the structure consists, essentially, of two members A and B, the member A being the supporting member and the member B being a cap or clamping member. The supporting member consists of a strip of metal folded upon a longitudinal central line to form a web 1 of double thickness, below which each portion of the strip is bent outward and upward and folded upon itself to form a flange 2 of double thickness, with an intermediate gutter at between the flange and the web, and the two lower portions of the strip are then carried toward each other and bent outward at the lower edges to form flanges 3 3 and gutters 1 y. Any suitable means may be employed for connecting together the lower portions of the strip composing the supporting member; but as shown there isa clamping-strip 20, consisting of a strip of metal extending beneath and bent upward at the edges to clamp the edges of the flanges 3 3. By the construction thus described I am enabled to secure great rigidity in the web 1, by which connection is made with the cap member B and in the flanges 2 2, upon which the panes of glass D D must rest, while the gutters 00 y are amply sufficient to hold and conduct any water which passes thereto, and the clamping-strip 20, in connection with the flanges 3 3, imparts great rigidity to the lower part of the member, which, it will be seen, is made without joints and without the necessity of riveting any parts together. The cap member B also consists of asingle strip bent at the center to form two side portions 4.- 4, inclining downward, and each side portion is bent inward to form a flange 5, which rests upon the glass pane beneath.

In order to securely bind together the two members, the web 1 is provided witha series of tongues 6, each of which extends upward through a slot '0 in the cap member and is slotted for the passage of a wedge or key E, which when driven through takes its bearing against the upper edge of the slot and the top of the cap member and binds the parts firmly but separablyv together, permitting the cap member to be easily removed for repairs.

The tongues 6 may be constructed in any suitable manner, but preferably consist each of a narrow strip of metal folded upon itself and clamping and bolted to the web 1.

In order to secure a more extended bearing of the cap member upon the glass and a better joint without too great rigidity, I form in connection with each flange 5 a bearing consisting of a corrugated portion 8-that is, the strip is bent inward at the lower edge of the flange 5 and has formed therein a plurality of longitudinal corrugations, the edges of which rest upon the glass along different parallel lines and form a more effectual seal than could otherwise be secured without the use of putty or cement. The use of corrugated strips to effectually seal the parts of the structure and dispense with putty maybe employed at other parts, as hereinafter fully set forth.

The lateral or inclined bars maybe formed in the manner approximating that of the ridge-bar. Thus, as shown in Fig. 2, there is a supporting member F and a cap member G, the supporting member having a web 1 and side flanges 2 2 and lower flanges 3 3, as

in the ridge-bar, the parts differing only in construction as the result of the difierent character of support required for the glass panes, the flanges 2 2 being inclined in the ridge-bar and vertical in the inclined or main bar. The flanges 2 2 of the main bar also when the panes overlap each other have inclined upper edges w, with intermediate shoulders 21., as shown in Fig. 1, so as to afford the desired inclined supports for the overlapping panes D D, while the cap members consist each of a series of sections, and the lower edges of the flanges 5 of said sections are inclined in respect to the line of the upper edge of the cap-sections, so as to correspond to the inclination of the glass panes, while each section has a shoulder t, against which bears the lower edge of the pane above.

A seal is eflected between the overlapping portions of the panes by means of a sealingpiece H, consisting of a strip having longitudinal corrugations 9 and a flange 10, which bears upon the upper edge of the pane upon which the sealing-piece lies, while the pane above bears upon the corrugations.

As shown in Fig. 1, the cross-gutter I consists of a strip bent to form a double flange 12, upon which the pane rests, and the strip is also bent at substantially a right angle to the flange 12 and then again bent at an obtuse angle to form a flange 13 and an intermediate gutter s. The cross-gutters are in sections, each section secured at its ends to the sides of the supporting members of the inclined or main bars.

The curb J consists of a single strip of metal bent to U shape to form a gutter r,

and one vertical portion has an outwardly extending flange with a lip 14:, against which bears the lower edge of the lower glass pane, while the other portion of the strip is bent laterally inward and then upward to form a flange 15 with a broad lip 16, upon which bear the different inclined or main bars, the gutters of which discharge into the gutter 'r of the curb.

The cap-piece G of each main bar may be formed like that of the ridge-bar; but preferably the flanges 5 5 rest in grooves of the corrugated sealing-strips K, similar to the strips H, each of the strips K extending inward toward the web of the supporting member and having a down-flange 17, which efectually prevents the glass pane from working sidewise, but which can be readily re moved after the cap member has been detached to permit access to the glass or the parts below.

In Fig. 3 I illustrate the construction employed when the panes, instead of being inclined and overlapped, abut. In this case the cross-bar consists of a strip bent to a U shape to form a gutterp and a doubled flange 18, on which the upper edge of the glass pane rests, and also to form a doubled flange 19 with a broad shoulder 29 below and a strengtheningweb 21 and a bent flange 22, forming a gutter g. If desired, a strip of sheet-lead 23 may rest upon the seat 29 and be bent over and cover the joints between the two panes, as shown.

In the construction shown in Fig. 5 the web 1 is formed, as in the other constructions, by folding the central portion of the sheet, but so as to leave an intervening space for the web 30 of a metallic supporting-rail, and in like manner the clamping-strip 20 is formed with a central recess to receive the lower edge of the web 30.

In Figs. 6 and 10 each sealing-strip K is bent upwardat theinner edge to form a flange 18, which engages the side of the web 1, while in Figs. 7, 8, and 9 the two sealing-strips K are formed of a single piece of metal bent upward at the central portion to fit over the web 1.

A separate cap-piece may, if desired, be dispensed with in the construction shown in Fig. 9, as in this instance the portion of the double sealing-strip which fits over the web 1 effectually closes the space between the adjacent panes of glass and serves the purpose of a cap.

Fig. 10 shows a different form of cap G. In this construction the cap is relatively narrow, and its edges are turned inward and upward andinterlocked with the inner upturned edges of the sealing-strips K.

Without limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts shown, I claim as my invention.

1. The ridge-bar of askylight provided with a supporting member having a central web with gutters at the lower end on opposite sides thereof, outturned flanges 3, 3, below the gut ters, and a clamping-strip folded over at. the edges to grip said flanges, substantially as set forth.

2. The ridge-bar provided with a bearing member consisting of a metallic sheet doubled on itself to form a doubled vertical web, extended outward at each side at the lower end of the Web and bent to form upwardly-extending flanges of double thickness, and with downwardly-extending converging portions having outturned flanges 3, and means for connecting together said flanges 3, substantially as set forth.

3. The ridge-bar provided with a bearing member consisting of a metallic sheet doubled on itself to form a doubled vertical web, extended outward at each side at the lower end of the web, and bent to form upwardly-extending flanges 2 of double thickness, and with downwardly-extending converging portions havingoutturned flanges 3, and a clampingstrip for connecting together said flanges 3, substantially as set forth.

4:. The combination with a glass of a skylight, of a bearing consisting of a metallic strip bent to form parallel supporting-ribs, said ribs resting on said glass and forming a support for an overlapping glass, and the outer side of the outer rib extending down- IIO wardly and held in contact with the supporting-glass by the Weight of the overlapping glass, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with a glass of a skylight, of a bearing consisting of a metallic strip bent to form parallel supporting-ribs, said ribs resting on said glass and forming a support for an overlapping glass, the outer side of the outer rib extending downwardly and held in contact with the supporting-glass by the weight of the overlapping glass, and said strip having a downturned flange to fit over one end of the supporting-glass, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with the glass of a skylight structu-re, of a member having a flange substantially perpendicular to said glass and a sealing-piece consisting of a bent metallic strip having parallel ribs between which the edge of the flange is seated, substantially as set forth. I

'7. The combination in a skylight-bar, of a supporting member consisting of a stripbent to form a central web and two side flanges, each of double thickness, and with downwardly-extending converging parts with outwardly-extending lower flanges, and a clamping-strip folded over at the edges to grasp said flanges, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination in a skylight-bar, of a supporting member consisting of a strip bent to form a central web and two side flanges, each of double thickness, and with downwardly-extending converging parts with outwardly-extending lower flanges bent upward to formside gutters, and means for connecting together the converging parts, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination in a skylight-bar, of a supporting member consisting of a strip bent to form a central web and two side flanges, each of double thickness, and with down wardly-exteuding converging parts with outwardly-extending lowerflanges, and a clamping-strip extending beneath said parts and connected with the edges thereof, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination with the supporting and cap members, of the sealing-pieces consisting of corrugated strips, the flanges of the cap members seated in the corrugations of said pieces, substantially as set forth.

11. The double cross-gutter consisting of a strip bent to form guttersp and q and doubled flanges, l8 and 19 and seat 29, substantially as set forth.

12. The inclined supporting-bar consisting of astrip of metal bent to form side bearings with vertical flanges 2, 2, each with a series of inclined edges and intermediate shoulders, combined with glass panes resting on said edges and projecting below said shoulders overlapping each other and withintermediate corrugated partingstrips, substantially as set forth.

13. The inclined supporting-bar consisting of a strip of metal bent to form side bearings with vertical flanges 2, 2, each with a series of inclined edges and intermediate shoulders, combined with glass panes resting on said edges and projecting below said shoulders overlapping each other and with intermediate corrugated parting-strips, consisting each of a strip of metal having corrugations and a flange extending across the edge of the lower pane, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDGAR J. I-IULSE.

Witnesses:

CHARLES E. FOSTER, W. CLARENCE DUVALL. 

